B/Gwari: Before our funeral

Every day and night our people keep vigil with their eyes widely open to defend themselves bravely without any weapon. Before we answer the call to the grave, can anybody help us to talk to our Governor, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai? We, the people of Birnin-Gwari, have been abandoned and our population is shrinking day by […]

Every day and night our people keep vigil with their eyes widely open to defend themselves bravely without any weapon. Before we answer the call to the grave, can anybody help us to talk to our Governor, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai?

We, the people of Birnin-Gwari, have been abandoned and our population is shrinking day by day. People are relocating to safe zones because of attacks by armed bandits virtually every minute.

Alas! We are not certain of bumper harvest this year because many peasants and commercial farmers had relocated. Many villages and towns are disappearing. In fact, even Nagwamatse of Kontagora that annexed Birnin-Gwari territory 100 years ago didn’t destroyed our land and territory compared to what armed bandits are doing.  

We need to see our Governor Malam El-Rufai or any senior government official. Security situation in Birnin-Gwari had further deteriorated, two brides abducted at Unguwar Laya just 6 kilometers from Birnin-Gwari on Wednesday, April 11. Again this evening, Thursday, April 12, around 4.30pm six NURTW members and their Chairman, returning from Funtua were kidnapped together with 12 others. A Police inspector known as, Danzuru, was shot and presently at ABUTH Shika, two other policemen killed today by the armed bandits. 

Two days ago, 15 newly recruited teachers on their way to Dogon Dawa were robbed. As at this moment Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna road is a nightmare for the past two weeks especially Palwaya, Kuriga-Manini axis. Birnin-Gwari has been abandoned and people were left at the mercy of armed bandits. Can someone whisper our cry to Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the top security echelon?  

Seriously, we are alienated by those in authority. In case we didn’t survive the terror of armed bandits, let not those that abandoned us touched our coffins or think of going to our funeral. 

Zubairu Abdulrauf, Birnin-Gwari Vanguards for Security and Good Governance.